“Aye.A true brute through and through,” she answered. Theodore froze. Despite the playfulness in her tone, it wasthe words she used that jabbed at him. “Theodore? Did I say somethin’ to offend ye? I thought we were…”
He lifteda hand as he closed his eyes. It was his mother’s voice rising like the tempest in the back of his mind. Theodore swallowed hard, forcing any thoughts of her or the dream down before they could take root.
“I meant nay offense,”she muttered. The playfulness had vanished and left nothing but the somber deadpan tone Theodore couldn’t stand. It was as if she shut herself off.
“Daenae do that,”he grumbled as he threw his eyes open. “Ye did nothin’ wrong here. There are just a few words that I’d rather nae be called if it’s all the same to ye.”
“Brute? Was that it?”she asked. There was no mocking in her voice, nothing that suggested she was teasing. But real honest concern dripped out of every syllable. Theodore nodded.
“I’ll never utter it again,”she said with such conviction that Theodore couldn’t help but admire her. There was strength and then there was her. She flashed him a weak smile as the lightning crashed against the gray sky.
“Ye shouldnae makepromises ye daenae intend to keep. I’m sure the moment ye reunite with yer family, that word will be the first way ye describe me.”
“I beg to differ.The first word would be ‘Laird’, for that is what ye are.”
Theodore archedhis eyebrow unamused by her way with words. She was clever and witty. But the fact that she was even talking to him in the first place was an answer to prayer. There was a light in her that flickered dimly. A light, Theodore knew could grow and shine brighter than anything the world had seen before. He just had to figure out how to kindle it, to feed it, and most importantly, tend to it.
“And isthat what I am? Just yer laird?” he asked as he tilted his head and studied her a moment. Before she could answer, a sharp shiver coursed through her. She rubbed her arms trying to trap whatever heat she could.
“Ye’re still cold,”Theodore grumbled.
“I’ll be fine.”
He pushedoff the side of the cave wall and moved to her. She didn’t flinch as he drew her closer to him. Her eyes widened as he rubbed her hands between his.
“Ye ken,the fastest way to warm up, is to get out of all that wet stuff. Ye look as if ye’ve got four layers of damp on ye.”
“Ye’re insufferable,”she said.
“Perhaps,but ye’re the one smilin’.”
“I am nae.”
“Aye, ye are,”he said as he noticed the color returning to her cheeks. She looked pensive and it drove him mad not knowing what was going through her head.
“What?”she asked over her shoulder. “I can feel ye starin’ at me.”
“I’mcurious as to what ye’re thinkin’ about,” he answered as he stepped up to the fire to steal the sting of the cold.
“Me family,”she answered. “Why do ye suppose they went so far away?”
“Daenae ken.Ye’ll have to ask them when we find them.”
“Do ye really thinkwe’ll find them?”
“Aye,they’re out there. We just need a bit of patience,” he said as the light from the fire kissed her cheekbones. She was beautiful, like a dream he shouldn’t have been allowed to witness, much less touch. His gaze shifted to her mouth, enthralled by the way it moved as she spoke of her family. How he wanted to pay attention, but she was too enchanting. Before he knew it, his mind had shifted to their stolen kiss.
His breath caught.He shouldn’t be thinking of such things. He wasn’t supposed to want her. Yet at every passing moment, his body betrayed him. As much as he wanted to give into her sirencall, he resisted. Theodore glanced to the sky. The low rumble of thunder rumbled through the cave sounding more like a stomach grumbling for food than a tempest.
“It would appearthe rain is lettin’ up. I suggest we make a break for the castle and pray there’s nae another one comin’ behind it,” Theodore said as he turned to Madison. She stepped back from the fire. Theodore dusted the fire covering it with the loose soil from the cave and scooping wet sand from outside. Once the fire was vanquished, he reached for Madison.
“Ye ready?”he asked as she took his hand. They stepped out of the cave to find the horse he’d tied off long gone. He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as he beat down the frustration that was rising. “Well, we’ve got our feet. The castle isnae that far up. We can make it within the hour if we hurry.”
Theodore helpedMadison along the soggy ridge. The waves had crashed against the shore, beating it relentlessly. Theodore had seen that pattern before and all he could was hope to reach the castle before the next round came crashing down on them.
Madison winced,her steps slow, her injury still a weight on her body, but she was determined not to show too much weakness. She had insisted on walking, though her limp was growing more pronounced.
Theodore’s patiencewas running thin. He turned sharply toward her, his voice low but firm. “Enough, Madison,” he said, his tone leaving little room for argument. “Ye cannae go on like this.”
